Senate Committee Expands Unemployment Benefits

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) (AP) - An Alabama Senate committee has
split along party lines in approving legislation to expand
unemployment benefits to about 20,000 more people.
The Senate Business and Labor Committee passed the bill Thursday
with seven Democrats voting for it and one Republican against it.
The bill would expand Alabama's unemployment compensation
program to cover workers who have only been in the work force a
short time, those seeking part-time work rather than full-time
jobs, people in job-training programs who have exhausted their
normal benefits, and workers who leave their jobs because of
domestic violence.
The bill now goes to the Senate. If the Legislature approves it,
Alabama will qualify for $100 million from the federal stimulus
package. Some Republicans are concerned how the state would pay for
the benefits once the federal money runs out.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)